NEW DELHI: India's tennis icon Sania Mirza was visibly and understandably emotional at the trophy presentation at the Road Laver Arena on Friday after the Mixed Doubles final.
This was Sania's last career appearance at a Grand Slam. The tennis legend bids adieu with 6 Grand Slam titles on her resume.
Sania and Rohan Bopanna lost 6-7, 2-6 to the Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the Mixed Doubles final played at the Rod Laver Arena early Friday morning India time.
Sania Mirza's Grand Slam titles
Interestingly, as Sania herself pointed out after their semi-final win, Bopanna was her first Mixed Doubles partner when she was just 14. Sania is currently 36 and Bopanna is 42.
Sania, who has won six Grand Slam doubles championships — three in mixed, including the 2009 Australian Open — will, according to reports, retire next month after a tournament in Dubai.
“Disclaimer, if I cry it is happy tears," Sania said. “I don’t want to take away the moment from Matos-Stefani who deserved this."
Sania's Grand Slam journey began and ended in Melbourne.
The 36-year-old first appeared at a Grand Slam 18 years ago in Melbourne, when she was beaten, in the singles draw, by the 2005 champion Serena Williams in a third-round match.
“I’ve had the privilege to come back here again and again, and win some tournaments and play some great finals...Rod Laver Arena has really been special in my life and I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my career at a Grand Slam,” Sania further said.
“It’s truly special for me to play along with Sania,” the 42-year-old Bopanna said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get the title, but thank you so much for what you have done for Indian tennis.”